Key Aspects:
- Carnival Sunrise will be visiting Half Moon Cay a day early on her September 25, 2025 sailing to ensure smoother water and safety for all guests.
- The tropical depression developing near Cuba has already impacted other cruise lines and ships, but is not yet an official tropical storm.
- Rough weather is expected to move north through the Bahamas during the weekend and is likely to impact more ships and sailings.
With a tropical system continuing to form just east of Cuba and forecast to move north through the Bahamas over the weekend, Carnival Cruise Line has decided to shift one port visit on Carnival Sunrise for a better experience.
The impacted cruise is the ship’s current sailing, which departed from Miami on Thursday, September 25, 2025. The 4-night Bahamas cruise was to have spent Friday at sea, then visit Half Moon Cay on Saturday, followed by Celebration Key on Sunday, before returning to Florida on Monday, September 29.
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Instead, the first full day of the cruise will now be spent at Half Moon Cay, with the day at sea moved to Saturday, September 27.
“We are actively monitoring a weather system forecasted to affect Half Moon Cay Saturday, September 27. To improve your experience, we will visit the destination tomorrow, Friday, September 26, from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, when conditions are expected to be better,” a notice sent to guests onboard confirmed.
Because Half Moon Cay is a tender port, it is important that ships visit when the seas are calm. Long swells or other rough water can make it too dangerous to operate tenders and unsafe for guests to walk across the unstable gangways.
A pier is under construction at Half Moon Cay, but is not expected to be completed for several more months.
While the Bahamas may be experiencing higher waves and wind gusts for the next 2-3 days, at this time it is only the call to Half Moon Cay that is impacted.
It is possible that the ship’s visit to Celebration Key might also be adjusted, though no such decision has yet been made. Celebration Key does have a dock, however, and if the weather is not too severe, a visit can still be manageable.
Carnival Sunrise (formerly Carnival Destiny) is homeported year-round from Miami, offering 4- and 5-night Bahamas sailings with occasional Eastern and Western Caribbean routes for even more vacation options.
Storm Development Likely This Weekend
The area of tropical interest currently centered near eastern Cuba that is already impacting cruises is expected to further develop over the next 2-3 days. In fact, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) forecasts an 80-90% chance of the system becoming an official tropical storm, which would be named Imelda.
Even without full development, however, strong winds and waves are likely to bring heavy surf and rain to the Dominican Republic, the Turks and Caicos, and the Bahamas through the weekend.
Other cruise lines are also making similar adjustments to select ships and itineraries to pursue the safest sailings.
Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas, for example, will now be sailing a 7-night Western Caribbean route for her September 28, 2025 departure instead of the planned Eastern Caribbean itinerary. This will also cause the second Icon-class ship to postpone her inaugural visit to St. Kitts.
Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Wish has also adjusted her September 26, 2025 sailing by dropping Nassau as a port of call and moving up her day at Castaway Cay to ensure a safer, more enjoyable experience.
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Additional cruise lines are likely to make similar adjustments as needed to safeguard their ships and keep all guests and crew members safe and comfortable for the best possible vacations.
Guests booked on Bahamas or Eastern Caribbean sailings departing in the next few days should stay in close communication with their cruise line for updates and itinerary alterations.
